Abstract: A process for preparing amines of the general formula (I) R1R2CHNR3R4??(I) in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen, straight-chain or branched, halogenated or halogen-free C1-C12-alkyl, C3-C12-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C11-aralkyl, by catalytic, hydrogenating amination of carbonyl compounds of the general formula (II) R1—C(?O)—R2??(II) with nitrogen compounds of the general formula (III) HNR3R4??(III) in the presence of bifunctional catalyst systems comprising a.) a hydrogenation-active catalyst component comprising one or more metals of transition group 8 of the Periodic Table and b.) one or more solid, acidic cocatalysts, wherein the hydrogenating amination is carried out in the presence of aqueous ammonia or aqueous amine of the formula (III) and at least one organic solvent miscible with ammonia or the aqueous amine of the formula (III).

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytic method for the production of aliphatic and aromatic carbonyl compounds with at least one aldehyde or ketone function, whereby said compounds can also comprise at least one aldehyde and ketone function. A starting material comprising at least one aliphatic- and/or aromatic-bonded functional group of formula (I), where R1=H, alkyl or aryl, X=H, or a group which may be substituted by the sulphinyl group of a sulphoxide during the catalytic reaction, n=a whole number from 1 to 8, is oxidised in the presence of a sulphoxide and/or a sulphide and the presence of iron salts or redox pairs of iron/copper or silver/copper salts, by means of an oxidising agent with a redox potential of Eo>+2 V vs. NHE, whereby the sulphoxide or sulphide has a catalytic function.